But the 50-year-old was remanded in custody until August 6 to be sentenced for unlawfully having a mobile phone while on remand in prison and illegally using the device to transmit a message.

Judge Christopher Critchlow ordered a psychiatric report to be prepared on Hellewell, who has admitted both of the charges.

The court also imposed a 10-year restraining order on the defendant banning him from contacting Mrs Hellewell, his son Kerry Lee and his sister Pamela Watts - all prosecution witnesses during the trial.

The restraining order bars Hellewell from going to Asda supermarket in Burgh Heath, where his wife worked as a checkout clerk, and from two addresses in Tadworth - in Chetwode Road and Parthia Close.

He is also forbidden to contact an address in Ventnor, Isle of Wight.

Judge Critchlow said: "I hope the restraining order will ensure that none of the behaviour I heard about during the trial continues in a way that is harassing to people."